.............Moultrie ready............... ...................Lowndes-Colquitt County: Special teams could be key.................................... By Wayne Grandy | Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 10:16 pm MOULTRIE — When Colquitt County and Lowndes — two of the top three teams in Class AAAAAA — square off on Friday, each will be looking for some little edge. It might be something worked on during the two weeks the Packers and Vikings have had to prepare for their Region 1-AAAAAA opener. It might be an adjustment during the heat of battle. It might be something done on special teams. Both teams have athletic players on the punt, kickoff, return and snap, hold and kick operations teams. And a big special teams play — or breakdown — could be crucial for two teams expecting to make deep forays into the postseason. “We work on them pretty good,” said Packers assistant Jeremy Rowell, who oversees the special teams. “They can make a huge difference.” The Packers have continued to make big plays and to consistently do the things that fans don’t always appreciate. Snaps — done most of the time by starting wide receiver Kiel Pollard — have been crisp and true. Punts and kickoffs have been done with precision and covered with care. The Packers are averaging 28.6 per kickoff return and 20.5 on 13 punt returns, two of which have been returned for touchdowns. Except for a couple of early penalties, the kickoff return mark might be more impressive. But it is hard to find fault with the punt returns. Ty Lee has returned two for 97 yards and a touchdown and Pollard has taken 10 back for 159 yards and a score. Nearly as important is the fact that the pair have made seven fair catches. “Getting the ball caught is No. 1,” Rowell said. “And you want to get the ball in the hands of guys who can make positive yards. Just catching the ball eliminates negative yards.” The Packers have used a two-deep return formation in the early going, often sending Lee deep and Pollard closer to the line of scrimmage. Rowell said coach Granger Shook runs the punt return team and Dextra Polite works with the returners. While the Packers have returned 13 punts, their opposition has yet to take one back. Junior Nate Powell, with his modified rugby-style kick, is averaging 37.6 yards and has managed to keep an opposing returner from getting a chance to make yardage. Five of his punts have been downed inside the 20. “I think what we’ve done without a traditional punter has been very good,” Rowell said. “What we’re doing fits our guys.” The Packers have had just five of 35 kickoffs returned this season and Luis Martinez has consistently sent his kicks into the end zone. “Our kickoffs have been great,” Rowell said. “We just got to be ready when he doesn’t kick one into the end zone.” Martinez has yet to miss an extra point as Packer, hitting all 15 he attempted last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Tift County. He has not missed in 24 attempts this season. Martinez is just 2-for-7 in field goal attempts, but Rowell expects him to regain the touch that allowed him to convert 7-of-11 last year. Two of his misses this season have been from more than 50 yards. And he is still trying to trust himself again after the significant injury sustained when he was run into while kicking. “He’s getting better, more consistent,” Rowell said. “Once he gets over the mental block, he’ll be all right.” Pollard and Shaun Bonner have been doing the snapping. Quarterback Chase Parrish has been the holder. Rowell says Lowndes has some special teams performers who are “electric” with the ball. “And their kickers and punters put the ball where they want,” Rowell said. “It will be a challenge to get and advantage. “We know that a caused fumble, a blocked punt, a returned punt or kickoff could change the momentum of the game.” Rowell also coaches the Packers safeties and had been pleased with the progress and play of Javonta Woods, Landon Scott and Rakeem Hightower. Scott returned an interception for a touchdown in the scrimmage at Coffee and Woods had a pick-six in the win over Pelham. Rowell said the 5-0 Packers appear ready to begin what could be a grueling run of as many as 10 games. “They understand the time is here,” he said. “This is what it is all about. You can’t show up in just one part of the game. You better have all three cylinders clicking.”
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:00:03 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015